In nature, plants encounter multiple stress factors, yet, to date, our understanding of how plants actively respond to combinatorial stress remains limited. Critically understanding how plants cope with combinatorial stress can allow us to mitigate their response through sustainable crop production and breeding efforts. Plant responses to simultaneous abiotic and biotic stress factors involve changes in plant chemistry. These changes alter the blend of secondary compounds produced and subsequently the volatile organic compounds emitted. This study aims to evaluate the interactive responses to the combinatorial stress of elevated carbon dioxide, flooding, and herbivory on Maize grown in environmental growth chambers. Maize plants were grown for 28 days in ambient or elevated atmospheric carbon, and in this atmosphere, subjected to flooding and herbivory. Volatile organic compounds were collected using Solid Phase Microextraction and analyzed using Gas Chromatography coupled with Mass Spectrometry. Preliminary results indicate that the interactive stress of elevated carbon dioxide, flooding, and herbivory alter plant chemistry. In addition, the compounds identified are known to be herbivore induced and environmental stress induced. This suggests that combinatorial stress invokes potentially additive phytochemical stress responses and reinforces the need for sustainable crop production.

Deciphering stress signaling in the plant chemistry of Maize

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ACS Fall 2022

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